TRUSTEES Boardman estimates flood fixes

Some of the projects have already been started.
By JOHN W. GOODWIN JR.
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
BOARDMAN -- Township officials now have cost estimates attached to the study of repairs and upgrades needed to curb flooding here.
Township trustees approved payment of $22,500 to MS Consultants of Youngstown to develop cost estimates for the 34 potential projects township officials spent six months studying. Trustees held a series of public workshops earlier this year to discuss the projects.
The total estimated cost to complete all 34 projects is $23,562,319.
Township Administrator Curt Seditz said the large dollar amount attached to the upgrades should not scare township residents, because the township should not have to solely bear the cost of most of the work. He said the estimates are for upgrades and repair work under a variety of jurisdictions.
Newport Dam
The largest estimate is for work at Newport Dam in Mill Creek Park. It would cost an estimated $10,599,600 to conduct a utilization study and creek clearing project at the dam.
Township officials have said the dam plays a major role in water drainage issues in the township. It has been estimated that between 75 percent and 80 percent of the township's storm water drains through Mill Creek Park and to the dam.
Seditz said more dialogue is needed among township officials, Mill Creek Park officials and all the surrounding communities where storm water flows into the park. He said addressing issues with the dam should be a group effort.
"We are not the only ones dumping through Mill Creek Park and into Lake Newport," he said.
Carol Potter, director of development and marketing at Mill Creek Park, said park officials have not seen the figures, but are looking to have open dialogue with any surrounding communities. She said the park has a program in the works to address cleanup issues at Mill Creek, but a joint effort is still a possibility.
"As a park district our goal is to have a healthy creek with a healthy habitat. We don't look at it as just water or flooding. We want a clean creek and there are a lot of components that go into that," she said.
Near completion
Seditz said it is also important for residents to understand that several of the projects on the list have been completed or are in the process of completion. Those projects are being handled by various entities including the township, Mahoning County Engineer's office and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Seditz said many of the projects will be completed in house by township personnel. Plans show eight of the projects being completed by township workers at an estimated cost of $154,000.
The township, over the next several years, will work on finding the means to complete all the projects, Seditz said. He added that the township is financially stable, but it would be financially impossible to take on all the projects at once.
Seditz said residents may consider a tax levy to address the issue. Requesting a levy has not been discussed, but could be a solution to alleviate some of the financial burden of the upgrade work, he said,.
Trustees will hold a public workshop to prioritize the projects and determine the feasibility of each project.
jgoodwin@vindy.com